Sudoku Solver Using Backtracking in DSA C - Build from Scratch

Sudoku Solver Using Backtracking

📖 Scenario: You have a Sudoku puzzle with some numbers filled in and empty cells represented by 0. Your task is to write a program that solves the Sudoku puzzle by filling in the empty cells following Sudoku rules.Sudoku rules: Each row, each column, and each 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9 without repetition.

🎯 Goal: Build a Sudoku solver in C that uses backtracking to fill the empty cells and prints the solved Sudoku grid.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a 9x9 integer array called board with the given Sudoku puzzle values

Create a function isSafe that checks if placing a number in a cell is valid

Create a function solveSudoku that uses backtracking to solve the puzzle

Print the solved Sudoku board in a 9x9 grid format

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Sudoku solvers are used in puzzle games and apps to provide hints or verify solutions. Backtracking algorithms are also used in many constraint satisfaction problems like scheduling and resource allocation.

💼 Career

Understanding backtracking and constraint checking is important for software engineers working on algorithms, game development, AI, and optimization problems.

1

Create the Sudoku board

Create a 9x9 integer array called board and initialize it with the following Sudoku puzzle values exactly as shown (0 represents empty cells): { {5,3,0,0,7,0,0,0,0}, {6,0,0,1,9,5,0,0,0}, {0,9,8,0,0,0,0,6,0}, {8,0,0,0,6,0,0,0,3}, {4,0,0,8,0,3,0,0,1}, {7,0,0,0,2,0,0,0,6}, {0,6,0,0,0,0,2,8,0}, {0,0,0,4,1,9,0,0,5}, {0,0,0,0,8,0,0,7,9} }

DSA C

int board[9][9] = {
    {5,3,0,0,7,0,0,0,0},
    {6,0,0,1,9,5,0,0,0},
    {0,9,8,0,0,0,0,6,0},
    {8,0,0,0,6,0,0,0,3},
    {4,0,0,8,0,3,0,0,1},
    {7,0,0,0,2,0,0,0,6},
    {0,6,0,0,0,0,2,8,0},
    {0,0,0,4,1,9,0,0,5},
    {0,0,0,0,8,0,0,7,9}
};
// Your code here

Hint

Use a 2D array with 9 rows and 9 columns. Use 0 for empty cells.

2

Create the isSafe function

Create a function called isSafe that takes four parameters: board (9x9 int array), row (int), col (int), and num (int). This function should return 1 if placing num at board[row][col] is valid according to Sudoku rules, otherwise return 0. Check the row, column, and 3x3 box for duplicates.

DSA C

int board[9][9] = {
    {5,3,0,0,7,0,0,0,0},
    {6,0,0,1,9,5,0,0,0},
    {0,9,8,0,0,0,0,6,0},
    {8,0,0,0,6,0,0,0,3},
    {4,0,0,8,0,3,0,0,1},
    {7,0,0,0,2,0,0,0,6},
    {0,6,0,0,0,0,2,8,0},
    {0,0,0,4,1,9,0,0,5},
    {0,0,0,0,8,0,0,7,9}
};

int isSafe(int board[9][9], int row, int col, int num) {
    // Your code here
}

Hint

Check the row and column for the number. Then check the 3x3 box by calculating the starting row and column of the box.

3

Create the solveSudoku function

Create a function called solveSudoku that takes board (9x9 int array) as a parameter and returns 1 if the Sudoku is solved, otherwise 0. Use backtracking: find an empty cell (0), try numbers 1 to 9, check if safe using isSafe, place the number, recursively call solveSudoku, and backtrack if needed.

DSA C

int solveSudoku(int board[9][9]) {
    // Your code here
}

Hint

Find the first empty cell. Try numbers 1 to 9. If safe, place the number and call solveSudoku recursively. If it fails, reset the cell to 0 and try next number.

4

Print the solved Sudoku board

Write code to call solveSudoku(board) and if it returns 1, print the solved Sudoku board in a 9x9 grid format. Print each number separated by a space and each row on a new line.

DSA C

int main() {
    if (solveSudoku(board)) {
        // Print the solved board here
    } else {
        printf("No solution exists\n");
    }
    return 0;
}

Hint

Call solveSudoku(board). If it returns 1, print the board row by row with spaces between numbers. Otherwise, print "No solution exists".

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of backtracking in a Sudoku solver?

easy

A. To sort the Sudoku grid before solving

B. To try possible numbers and undo choices if they lead to conflicts

C. To fill all empty cells with zeros

D. To randomly assign numbers to cells

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand backtracking role

   Backtracking tries numbers in empty cells and removes them if they cause conflicts.

2. Step 2: Compare other options

   Sorting or random assignment does not solve Sudoku logically; filling zeros is incorrect.

3. Final Answer:

   To try possible numbers and undo choices if they lead to conflicts -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Backtracking = Try and undo choices [OK]

Hint: Backtracking means try and undo wrong moves [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking backtracking sorts the grid
• Assuming backtracking fills zeros
• Believing numbers are assigned randomly

2. Which of the following is the correct way to check if a number can be placed in a Sudoku cell in C?

easy

A. if (isSafe(row, col, num)) { place num; }

B. if isSafe(row, col, num) { place num; }

C. if isSafe(row, col, num); { place num; }

D. if (isSafe[row, col, num]) { place num; }

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand C syntax for if condition

   In C, conditions must be inside parentheses and followed by braces for blocks.

2. Step 2: Analyze options

   if (isSafe(row, col, num)) { place num; } uses correct syntax: if(condition) { ... }. Others miss parentheses or use wrong brackets.

3. Final Answer:

   if (isSafe(row, col, num)) { place num; } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   C if syntax = if(condition) { } [OK]

Hint: Use parentheses around conditions in C if statements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting parentheses in if condition
• Using square brackets instead of parentheses
• Adding semicolon after if condition

3. What will be the output of the following code snippet that tries to solve a Sudoku puzzle using backtracking?

int board[9][9] = {
  {5,3,0,0,7,0,0,0,0},
  {6,0,0,1,9,5,0,0,0},
  {0,9,8,0,0,0,0,6,0},
  {8,0,0,0,6,0,0,0,3},
  {4,0,0,8,0,3,0,0,1},
  {7,0,0,0,2,0,0,0,6},
  {0,6,0,0,0,0,2,8,0},
  {0,0,0,4,1,9,0,0,5},
  {0,0,0,0,8,0,0,7,9}
};
if (solveSudoku(board)) {
  printBoard(board);
} else {
  printf("No solution exists\n");
}

medium

A. Infinite loop occurs

B. No solution exists

C. Compilation error due to missing function

D. The completed Sudoku board printed correctly

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the given board and solveSudoku function

   The board is a valid Sudoku puzzle with empty cells as 0. solveSudoku uses backtracking to fill it.

2. Step 2: Predict output of solveSudoku

   Since the puzzle is solvable, solveSudoku returns true and printBoard prints the completed board.

3. Final Answer:

   The completed Sudoku board printed correctly -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Solvable board = completed print [OK]

Hint: Valid puzzles print solved board, else print no solution [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming no solution exists for valid puzzles
• Expecting compilation error without full code
• Thinking infinite loop happens without base case

4. Identify the bug in this backtracking Sudoku solver snippet:

bool solveSudoku(int board[9][9]) {
  int row, col;
  if (!findEmptyCell(board, &row, &col))
    return true;
  for (int num = 1; num <= 9; num++) {
    if (isSafe(board, row, col, num)) {
      board[row][col] = num;
      if (solveSudoku(board))
        return true;
      board[row][col] = 0;
    }
  }
  return false;
}

medium

A. Incorrect loop range for numbers (should be 0 to 9)

B. Not resetting cell to 0 after backtracking

C. No bug; code works correctly

D. Missing base case to stop recursion

Solution

1. Step 1: Check base case and recursion

   Base case returns true if no empty cell found, stopping recursion correctly.

2. Step 2: Verify backtracking steps

   After trying a number, if it fails, cell resets to 0, allowing other tries.

3. Step 3: Confirm loop range

   Loop runs from 1 to 9, which is correct for Sudoku numbers.

4. Final Answer:

   No bug; code works correctly -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Backtracking code correct = no bug [OK]

Hint: Check base case, reset cell, and loop range carefully [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to reset cell after failed attempt
• Wrong loop range including 0
• Missing base case causing infinite recursion

5. Given a partially filled Sudoku board, which strategy improves backtracking efficiency the most?

hard

A. Use constraint propagation to reduce possible numbers before backtracking

B. Always try numbers 1 to 9 in order for each empty cell

C. Fill empty cells randomly and backtrack if conflict occurs

D. Skip checking row and column constraints to save time

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand backtracking efficiency

   Trying all numbers blindly is slow; skipping checks causes wrong solutions.

2. Step 2: Analyze constraint propagation

   Constraint propagation narrows choices before backtracking, reducing search space and speeding solving.

3. Step 3: Evaluate other options

   Random filling is inefficient; skipping constraints breaks Sudoku rules.

4. Final Answer:

   Use constraint propagation to reduce possible numbers before backtracking -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Constraint propagation = faster solving [OK]

Hint: Reduce choices first, then backtrack for speed [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying numbers in fixed order without pruning
• Random filling wastes time
• Ignoring constraints breaks puzzle rules